‘Negative’ Wool Bd. Policy Criticised

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 12

‘Negative’ Wool Bd. Policy Criticised

Th- conclusion that those responsible for the promotion of wool in the interest of producers throughout the world, including New Zealand, were making a mistake in not recognising tin world trend in mixing wool with synthetic materials to produce cheaper textiles was reached bj Mr R. D. Walker, manag-ing-director of the largest garment dry-cleaning business in New Zealand, during a aeven-week business visit to the United States, Britain and the Continent. Mr Walker also came to the conclusion the present level of prices for wool on the world markets was in favour of wool producers, but that any increase would favour the increased use of synthetic fibres. "Because of my business interests, I had a close look at the textiles industry in every country 1 visited. Wool garments were generally priced higher than garments made of synthetk fibres which purported to be wool substitutes," Mr Walker said. “The garments made from synthetic fibres seemed to be cheap enough to be seasonal and expendable.

"Kenrded as Luxury - “Wool tends to be regarded as a luxury, although acknowledged to have no equal While wool prices remain about the present level the future for wool is good; but the more expensive wool becomes the more encouragement is given to the use of synthetics “We have got to recognise that these economic factors favour the mixture of wool with diluent fibres. This is not necessarily to the wool producers’ disadvantage, as many interesting textile effects ean be obtained by such mixtures. These may provide favourable outlets for wool," he said.

"The European men’s suitings in the cheaper lines are invariably a mixture of different synthetic fibres, the exception being only in the higher-priced lines, which are usually pure wool. The business executives I spoke to, particularly in Germany and France, almost all wore fibre suits. They admired my pure wool worsted suits, but on inquiring the price obviously thought it more economic to wear fibre suits for a year and then dispose of them for new fibre suits." Mr Walker said. “Wool interests should not. as a policy, oppose the use of wool iz mixtures. But I believe the New Zealand Wool Producers’ Board will not support any research organisation unless it agrees to the exclusive study of wool. “Textile development overseas is in the direction of specialisation in fabrics using selected fibres as new materials and it is a negative attitude by wool interests to ignore the possibilities of wool mixture fabrics.*' Mr Walker said. “In my opinion, the woo] board ought to promote wool for woollen mixture suitings." Textiles faced very strong competition from other consumer goods overseas and fashion had become a very important element in the sales of textiles

Mr Walker was a guest speaker, on behalf of his firm, Bradford Dye Works, Ltd., Sumner, at the annual conference of the Garment Dyers’ Guild of the United States, held in Indianapolis. He said that because of the high operating costs and increasing complexities of textile fibres, the dyeing Industry in every country he visited was becoming the job of a very small number of firms. This trend was also noticeable in New Zealand.